Striking-machine.



A. C. MORGAN.

STRIKING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 30, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914,

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

q iweoovn A THE NORRIS PETERS 30., PHOTOJJTHQ. WASHINGTON D c.

A. G. MORGAN.

STRIKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1121.30, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEBTBBHEET 2.

Qwuemtoz 6 0/6 THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHomLITHa. WASHINGTON. D. L

A. 0. MORGAN. STRIKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C

ARTHUR C. MORGAN, 0F TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

STRIKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed January 30, 1914. Serial No. 815,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Striking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to strength testing apparatus, particularly to a device adapted to register the force of a blow delivered with a maul or sledge, and has for its object the provision of a novel device of this character in which a ball is propelled vertically within a hollow standard by the impact of a blow, automatically exposing, during its ascent, a succession of numbers indicating the force of the blow, and being deflected during its descent into a supplementary standard wherein it is adapted to actuate a spinning device for distributing prizes to the patrons of the device.

An important object is to provide a device of this character in which all the numbers exposed by the upward movement of the ball may be simultaneously and quickly reconcealed by the movement of a single operating lever.

Other objects and advantages, such as simplicity, efficiency, durability, and the general improvement of the art will be brought out in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the en tire device set up ready for use, Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the lower portion of the device with the blow receiving lever cut away and the first three of the indicating numbers exposed to view, Fig. 4: is an enlarged side elevation of the lower portion of the device, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lower portion of the device, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same portion taken at right angles to the line of section of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the blow receiving lever in position at the lower portion of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a vertically disposed hollow standard preferably square in cross-section and comprising, preferably,

a plurality of sections of a comparatively short length, which may be placed one upon the other to attain the desired height, and secured in place by platesand screws (not shown). Formed on the side of the standard 1 is an auxiliary hollow standard 2 also square in cross-section and extending to approximately one-third the height of the standard 1. The standards 1 and 2 are separated from each other by a partition 3 provided adjacent its upper and lower ends with openings a and 5, respectively. The standards 1 and 2 are mounted on a base 6 and. held more securely thereon by braces 7. When the device is set up for use, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, any desired number of guy wires 8 may be connected adjacent its upper end with stakes or other suitable anchors for holding the device in a firm and erect position.

Adjacent the lower end of its front wall 9 the standard 1 is provided with a vertical slot 10 through which extends the end of a bar 11 provided upon one end with a platform 12 and connected at its other end with a lever 13 pivoted, as at 14, within bearings 15 mounted upon the base 6. At its outer end the lever 13 is provided with a pad 16 adapted to be struck by a maul or sledge in the hands of the person desiring to test his strength. A ball 17 is disposed upon the platform 12 within the hollow standard 1 and is adapted to be thrown upward when the lever 13 is struck.

Starting at approximately three feet from the base of the device and disposed at about nine inches apart along the whole front wall 9 of the standard 1, is a series of numbers 18 painted or otherwise marked on the wall 9, the numbers starting at some arbitrary number such as 100 at the lower end and increasing successively toward the top of the device. Normally each number 18 is covered by a plate 19 pivoted between brackets 20 secured upon the standard 1 and adapted to swing in a vertical plane. The plates 19 are held in their closed or covering position by means of catches 21 pivoted adjacent their free edges, said catches being adapted to enter openings 22 formed in the wall 9 and engage transverse strips 23 secured upon the inner surface of the wall 9. 'As the catches 21 are pivotally connected with the plates 19, gravity is all that is needed to cause the catches to engage the strips 23. Springs 24: are so arranged in relation to the plates 19 that they normally tend to swing the plate outwardly and downwardly to expose the numbers concealed by them. It will be observed that the catches 21 project inwardly of the standard 1 to a considerable extent so that theywill be struck by the ball 17 when it is forced upwardly by a blow on the lever 13. As the ball 17 travels upwardly it will strike against each successive catch 21 until its force has been spent. lVhen the ball strikes a catch 21 itlifts it sufficiently to clear the ransverse strip 23 whereuponthe spring .24 will force the plate 19 outwardly and downwardly exposing to view the number previously concealed by it. It will of course be obvious that the harder the blow upon the lever 13 the greater will be the upward movement of the ball 17 and greater will be the number of numbers exposed.

Pivoted as at 25 upon the partition 3 between the standards 1 and 2 and at the lower part of the opening 4 is a plate 26 which has its upper end normally engaged by a catch 27 formed on the end of an arm 28 to which is connected, as at 29, a bell-crank lever 30 journaled within a bearing 31 disposed upon the top closure 32 of the standard 2. The other end of the bell-crank lever 30 is pivotally connected, as at 33, with an arm 34 which is in turn pivotally connected, as at 35, with a second arm 36 rigidly connected with the plate 26 at its axis. A spring 37 is trained about the axis of the plate 26 and tends to swing the normally upper end of the plate 26 downwardly. A housing 38 is hingedly connected, as at 39, with the standard 2 and is adapted to inclose the arm 28 and bell-crank lever 30 for excluding dust, etc., and improving the appearance of the machine.

As the ball 17 moves upwardly within the standard 1 it will engage the catch 27 lifting the arm 28 and releasing the plate 26, which will then, by virtue of the spring 37,

swing downwardly into the position indi-' cated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. After the momentum of the ball is spent andthe ball drops it will strike the plate 26 and be de fiected thereby through the opening 4 in the partition 3 and into the auxiliary standard 2. As the ball strikes the portion of the plate 26 which then extends across the standard 2 it will swing that end downwardly and swing the other end upwardly into its original position, at the same time returning the arms 36 and 34, the bell-crank lever 30, and the: arm 28 to their original positions, thus causing the catch 27 to reengage the plate 26.

The lower end of the standard 2 is provided with a block 40 having a central aperture 41 for the reception and guidance of a rod 42 which extends upwardly and through a transverse plate 43. The rod 42 is provided upon its upper end with an inclined platform 44 which is normally disposed on plate 26 and has entered the auxiliary standard 2 "it will drop upon the platform 44 forcing it downwardly against the resistance of the spring 48. When the platform 44 has reached its lowest position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, the ball is then free to pass through theopening 5 in the partition 3 and down onto the platform 12 in position for another stroke upon the striking lever 13. This downward movement of the platform 44 is utilized for actuating a prize distributing device indicated as a whole by the numeral 49. This prize distributing device comprises a platform 50 mounted upon suitable legs 51 supported by braces A shaft 53 is journaled centrally of the platform 50 and has upon its upper end an arrow 54 which is adapted to be rotated by means of transmission connected with the pin 45 on the rod 42. Upon the lower end of the shaft 53 is secured a ratchet 55 which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 56 pivotally mounted, as at 57, upon a horizontally slidable rod 58 working through a guide bracket 59. It will be noted that the pawl 56 may be swung downwardly to the right but can not be swung to the left owing to its rod 58. The rod 58 is pivotally connected with a bell-crank lever 61 mounted, as at 62, upon the frame of the platform. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 61'is connected through an intermediate link 63 with a second link 64, which is pivoted intermediate its ends, as shown at 65, upon a bracket 66 secured upon one of the leg braces 52. The free end of the link 64 is connected with a third link 67 pivoted upon the pin 45. It will be observed that thus when the ball 17 strikes upon the platform 44 and the pin 45 isconsequently moved downwardly through the medium of the links 67, 64and 63, and the bell-crank lever 61, the rod 58 will be moved horizontally carrying with it the pawl 56 which will engage the teeth of the ratchet 55 and spin the arrow 54. At points along the path of travel of the arrow pins easily recover the numbers, I provide a bar 69, which may be formed in sections if desired, upon the side of the standard 1. Pivotally connected with the bar 69, as shown at 70, is a plurality of rocker arms 71 which are pivoted intermediate their ends, upon the side of the standard 1, as shown at 72. The forward ends of the rocker arms 71 are bent at right angles and are disposed below the plates 19 so that when the catches 21 are released by the ascent of the ball the plates 19 will spring outwardly and dropping down, will rest upon the angular ends of the arms 71. At its lower end the rod 69 is pivotally connected with a short link 7 3 pivoted intermediate its ends upon the rear wall of the standard 1. The link 73 is in turn connected with another link 74 which is pivotally connected with an operating handle 75, pivoted, as at 76, upon a standard 2. It will thus be observed that by pressing downwardly upon the handle 75, the rod 69 will be pulled downwardly, elevating the angular ends of the arms 71, thus throwing the plates 19 back into place so that the catches 21 will engage the transverse strips 23. The device is then ready for another cycle of operation.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a hollow vertical standard, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end disposed within'said standard, a ball adapted to rest upon said end, said standard being provided upon its face with a plurality of numbers, plates upon said standard normally covering said numbers, and means for holding said plates in their covering position, said means being adapted to be engaged by said ball in its upward movement for allowing said plates to swing outwardly to expose the numbers.

A device of the character described comprising a hollow vertical standard, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end disposed within said standard,

a ball adapted to rest upon said end, said standard being provided upon its face with a plurality of numbers, plates upon said standard normally covering said numbers, and means on said plates adapted to be engaged by said ball in its upward movement for allowing said plates to swing outwardly to expose the numbers, said means comprising catches pivoted upon the free edges of said plates and extending into-said standard in the path of travel of the ball.

3. A device of the character described comprising a hollow vertical standard, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end disposed within said standard, a ball adapted to rest upon said end, said standard being provided upon its face with a plurality of numbers, plates pivoted upon said standard and normally covering said numbers, and means on said plates adapted to be engaged by said ball in its upward.

4:.-A device of the character described,

comprising a hollow vertical standard, a

lever pivoted intermediate its ends and havcomprising catchespivoted upon the free,

edges of said plates and extending into said standard in the path of travel of the ball, and means for returning said plates to their closed positions, said means comprising a lever pivoted upon said standard, a rod connected with .said lever and extending vertically of said standard, and a plurality of arms connected with said rod and disposed below said plates for engagement with said plates when in their open positions.

5. A device of the character described comprising a vertical hollow standard, a base, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon said base and havingone end extend ing into said standard, a ball disposed upon said end, said standard being provided upon its face with a plurality of numbers, plates pivoted within brackets on said standard and adapted to cover said numbers, said standard being'provided with apertures adjacent the free edges of said plates when in their closed positions, catches pivoted upon the free edges of said plates and extending. through said apertures, transverse bars dis posed within said standard and engaged by said catches, said catches projecting in the path of travel of and being adapted to be engaged by said ball, a spring on each of said plates for swinging the plate outwardly said end, said standard being provided 'upon its face with a plurality of numbers, plates pivoted within brackets on said standard and adapted to cover said numbers, said standard being provided with apertures adj acent the free edges of said plates when in their closed positions, catches pivoted upon the free edges of said plates and extending through said apertures, transverse bars disposed within said standard and engaged by said (catches, said catches projecting in the path of travel of and being adapted to be engaged by saidball, a springon each of said plates for'swinging the plate outwardly when the catch has been released, and means for simultaneously returning all of said plates to their closed positions, said means comprising a lever pivoted uponsaid standard, a rod extending vertically of said standard and connectedvwith said lever, and a plurality of arms pivotally connected with said rod and extending transversely of said standard and pivoted intermediate their ends thereon, said arms'being provided at their free ends with angular portions disposedacross the face of said standard and adapted to be engaged by said plates when said plates are swung outwardly.

7 A device of the character described comprising a vertical hollow standard, a base,a lever pivoted intermediate its ends :upon said base and having one end disposed within said standard, a ball-resting upon said end,-a second standard mounted upon said base and extending vertically to a portion of the height of said first named standard, said second named standard being separated from said first named standard by a partition, said partition being provided with twoopenings, a plate pivoted within said secondvnamed standard adjacent one of said openings, a catch for holding said plate in a normally substantially vertical position,

said catch extendinginto the pathof travel of said ball and being released by said ball during its upward movement, said plate being then adapted to swing into a position diagonally across both of said standards for deflecting the ball into said second named standard, the engagement of the ball with the portion of said plate extending across said second named standard returning said plate to its original position.

8. A device of the character described comprising a hollow vertical standard, a base, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends .upon said base and having one end extending into said standard, a ball disposed upon said end and adapted'to be moved upwardly through said standard, a secod standard separated from said first named-standard by a partition provided with an upper and a lower opening, said second named standard extending to only a fraction of the height of said first named standard, means on said first named standard controlled by inginto said standard, a ball disposed upon said end,means on said standard actuated by said ball-for indicatinv the force elevat ing said ball by means-of its height, a second standard separated from .said first named standard bya partition provided withupper and lower openings, a plate pivoted adjacent the uppermost of said open ings, a catch for holding said platein a normally substantially vertical position, said catch extending into :the-path'of travel of said ball for releasing said plate so that it may swing into-an inclined position, said ball being deflected into said second named standard by said plate, an upwardly springpressed platform disposed within the lower end of said second named standard and adapted to receive said ball upon'its descent said platform extending across said second named standard adjacent thev upper edge of said lowermost opening, said platform being depressedby-the impinging of the ball upon it, said ball being then free to reenter said first named-standard through said lowermost opening.

10. A device of the character described comprising a vertical hollow standard, a base, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon said base and having one end extending into said standard, a ball disposed upon, said end, means on said standard actuated by said ball for indicating the force elevating said ball by means of its height, a second standard separated from said first named standard by a partition provided with upper and lower openings, a-plate pivoted adjacent the uppermost of said openings, a catch for holding said plate in a normally substantially vertical position, said catch extending into the path of travel of said ball for releasing said plate so that it may swing into an inclined position, said ball being deflected into said second named standard by said plate, an upwardly springpressed platform disposed Within the lower end of said second named standard and adapted to receive said ball upon its descent,

vice adjacent said standards and having operable connection with said platform.

11. A device of the character described comprising a vertical hollow standard, a base, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon said base and having one end extending into said standard, a ball disposed upon said end, means on said standard actuated by said ball for indicating the force elevating said ball by means of its height, a second standard separated from said first named standard by a partition provided with upper and lower openings, a plate pivoted adjacent the uppermost of said openings, a catch for holding said plate in a normally substantially vertical position, said catch extending into the path of travel of said ball for releasing said plate so that it may swing into an inclined position, said ball being deflected into said second named standard by said plate, an upwardly springpressed platform disposed within the lower end of said second named standard and adapted to receive said ball upon its descent, said platform extending across said second named standard adjacent the upper edge of said lowermost opening, said platform being depressed by the impinging of the ball upon it, said ball being then free to reenter said first named standard through said lowermost opening, a rod connected with said platform and extending through a slot in said second named standard, a support adjacent said standards, an arrow revolubly mounted on said support, a ratchet connected with said arrow, and a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet for spinning said arrow, said pawl being actuated by aplurality of links connected with the rod on said platform.

12. A device of the character described comprising a hollow vertical standard, a base, a lever pivoted on said base and having one end disposed within said standard, a ball disposed on said end, said standard being provided with a plurality of numbers throughout its length, plates connected with the standard and normally covering said numbers, and means operated by said ball for moving said plates and exposing said numbers successively as the ball ascends.

13. A device of the character described comprising a base, a hollow vertical standard, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said base and having one end disposed withinsaid standard, a ball adapted to rest on said end, said standard being provided with a plurality of numbers, plates normally covering said numbers, catches on the tops of said plates and extending within said vertical standard in the path of travel of said ball, said plates being operated by said ball coming in contact with said catches and swung outwardly for exposing the numbers successively as the ball strikes said catches in its ascent, and means for returning all of said outwardly swung plates simultaneously to their original positions.

14. A device of the character described comprising a base, a hollow vertical standard, a lever pivoted upon said base intermediate its ends and having one end disposed within said standard, a ball seated upon said end, a second standard partitioned from said first named standard, means engaged by said ball during its ascent for deflecting said ball upon its descent into said second named standard, and an impact operated spring-pressed platform disposed in said second named standard and adapted to receive said ball upon its descent, said platform adapted for connection to a spinning device to be actuated by the downward movement of said platform caused by the impact of said ball thereon.

15. A device of the character described comprising a standard, a lever thereon intermediate of its ends and adapted to receive a ball on one end thereof, said standard being provided with indices, means for normally covering said indices, and means engaged by the ball in its ascent for exposing said indices.

16. A device of the character described comprising a standard, a lever pivoted thereon intermediate of its ends and adapted to support a ball on one end thereof, said standard being provided with indices, means adapted to conceal said indices and means actuated by said ball for controlling said first mentioned means and for automatically exposing said indices.

17. A device of the character described comprising a standard provided upon its face with a plurality of indices, a pivoted lever having one end adjacent said standard, a weight adapted to be projected by said end along said standard, releasable means normally covering said indices and means normally holding the releasable means and operable by the passage of said weight along said standard.

18. A device of the character described comprising a standard provided upon its face with a plurality of indices, a pivoted lever having one end disposed adjacent said standard and adapted to project a weight along said standard, plates movable upon said standard and adapted to cover said indices, means on said plates adapted to be engaged by said weight during its upward movement and means for moving said plates to expose said indices.

19. A device of the character described comprising a standard provided upon its face with a plurality of indices, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end disposed adjacent said standard, a

I weight adapted to be seated upon said end and be. projected therefrom along said standard, a plurality of outwardly spring pressed plates pivoted on said standard, and catches on said plates engaging said standard for normally holding said plates in a position covering said indices, said catches extending in the path of travel of said weight and engageable thereby for releasing said plates and exposing said indices.

20. A device of the character described comprising a hollow standard, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end extending into said standard, a weight adapted to seat upon said end, said standard being provided upon one face with a plurality of indices, plates pivoted on said standard and normally covering said indices, means on said plates adapted to be engaged by said weight in its upward move- "ment for allowingsai'd plates to swing; outwardly for exposing said'indices, and means for returning said platestotheir closed positions.

21. A device of the character described comprising a hollow standard provided upon its face with a plurality of indices a lever pivotedintermediate its endsand having one end disposed within said standard and adapted to support a weight, plates pivoted on said standard and adapted to cover said indices, means on said plates releasably engaging said standard, said plates being successively released from engagement with said standard by the engagement Copies of this patent may be obtaineddor five cents each, by addressing the. GOBHIIiSSiOHeIOf,2312611115,

of said weight with said means during its movement. r

22. A device of the character described comprising a pair of hollow standards communicating with each other, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end disposed in one of said standards, a ball adapted to seat on said end,-means operated by the ball during its ascent in the first standard for deflecting it into the other standard upon its descent, and a movable plate engaged byv the ball upon its: descent; said plate being adapted to deflect said ball intothe first standard and to operate a spinning device connected with said plate;

28. A device of the character described comprising a pair of hollowstandards communicating with each other, a lever pivoted intermediate its end and having one end disposed in one of said standards, a: ball adapted: to seat on said end, means operated by the ball during its ascent in the first standard for deflecting it into the other standard upon its descent, and: means tor deflecting said ball intosaid first standard; said. means being adaptedto actuate a prize distributing device simultaneously with its degiection of said'ball into said first standar a In testimony whereof 1 hereto aflix my signature in thepresence of two-witnesses -ABTHUR-CI MORGAN, Witnesses i v CHARLES B DWELL,

THOMAsL. LEE.

Washington, D. 0;. 

